Swine flu update

Swine flu update

Cases of swine flu have been reported in several U.S. states, Mexico, and a growing number of other countries. While the U.S. government has declared this a “public health emergency,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano emphasized that this signifies a “declaration of emergency preparedness,” meaning that national, state, and local health organizations are closely monitoring new cases and taking steps to contain the spread of the virus. At this point, the U.S. government has not issued any travel advisories, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted health recommendationsfor those who intend to travel to Mexico.

Members of the MIT community are urged to follow the same strategies they would ordinarily use to protect themselves and others during a normal cold and flu season: Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; cover coughs and sneezes; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and stay home if you are feeling sick.

To date, no cases of swine flu have been identified in Massachusetts, but MIT Medical and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health continue to monitor the situation closely. The most up-to-date national and local information is available from the CDC and the state’s public health blog.

April 27, 2009

 

 

from http://medweb.mit.edu/about/news/article/swineflu-090427.html